A drunk man who smelled like beer
sat down on a subway next to a priest.
The man's tie was stained, his face
was plastered with red lipstick,
and
a half-empty bottle of gin was sticking
out of his torn coat pocket.
He
opened his newspaper and
began reading.

After a few minutes the man
turned to the priest and asked,
'Say Father,
what causes arthritis?'

The priest replies, 'My Son, it's
caused by loose living,
being with
cheap, wicked women, too much alcohol, contempt for your fellow man,!
sleeping around with prostitutes
and lack of a bath.'

The drunk muttered in response,
'Well, I'll be damned, '
Then returned to
his paper.

The priest, thinking about what
he had said, nudged the man
and
apologized. 'I'm very sorry.
I didn't mean to come on so strong.
How long
have you had arthritis?'

The drunk answered, 'I don't have it, Father.
I was just reading here
that the Pope does.'